The Activities Of Jesuits In Jiangnan Areas During Early Qing

During Early Qing, the Shunzhi and Kangxi eras, the Christianity spread prosperously in many areas in Jiangnan. Emperors Shunzhi and Kangxi tolerated the western missionaries and showed their interest on European knowledge, especially Kangxi. Form Adam Schall von Bell to Ferdinand Verbiest, a group of missionaries with scientific, artificial, musical, medicinal talents were centralized in Beijing, consequently the mission was promoted and protected. But these foreigners in the Court were occasionally occupied with dealing with the social relationship and other business. By the end of Ming, the number of churches in Jiangnan had been the largest one in the whole country. And the invitation of the local literati became the basic way of gospel propaganda in different areas. Jiangnan in Early Qing is the area with the most numerous missionaries and converts, the most excellent personnel, the strongest continuity of Christian mission, except Beijing. The situation had not changed until the order of prohibition by Qianlong Emperor, who is the son of Kangxi. Then the far-flung Northwestern provinces became the mission places, which is another issue.Chapter one of this contribution describes the general situation of mission in Jiangnan during late Ming and early Qing, investigates the mission centers and numerates the outstanding Christians as Candida Xu, Zhu Zongyuan, Zhang Xingyan and He Shizhen. Chapter two analyzes the common characteristics of the Jesuits and discusses the experience and activities of some famous missionaries. Chapter three researches the missionary network in Jiangnan, including the intercourses between the Jesuits and the Chinese with varied estates, the relations and organizations between the missionaries, the communication between Jiangnan Jesuits and their European homelands. Chapter four discusses thoroughly the missionary methods. The Jesuits exhibited themselves in any suitable cases to attract the Chinese. The various sodalities (in Chinese "Hui") were organized successfully in Jiangnan and guaranteed the successful organizing and rapid expanding of Christian life. Helpers especially the Catechists worked zealously to establish a local church. At the same time, the Jesuits tried to cultivate local clergies to release their heavy burdens. Books, Pictures and European crafts were the main carriers to preach the doxy, because Chinese were always attracted by the literature and some exotic thing. Chapter five describes the organization of Christian life, including the Jesuits' religious life, Christian liturgy, the organization of sacraments, the church facilities, etc. Chapter six concludes the whole text and delivers some comments on the characteristics of Jiangnan mission. Summarily, the favorable attitudes of the emperors and loose policy in Shunzhi and Kangxi eras, the active efforts of a large group of highly qualified missionaries, the obedience of Matteo Ricci's Accommodation Methods by his followers, the good relationship with the local officials and literati with their cooperation, the remorseless exploration of better missionary ways, codetermined the flourishing situation.